Is Recession Preparing a New Breed of Survivalist? [Survival Today - an On going Thread #2]

May 05th,2008

[nw_arizona_granny]

Yahoo ran an interesting article this morning indicating a rise in the number of survivalist communities cropping up around the country. I have been wondering myself how much of the recent energy crisis is causing people to do things like stockpile food and water, grow their own vegetables, etc. Could it be that there are many people out there stockpiling and their increased buying has caused food prices to increase? It’s an interesting theory, but I believe increased food prices have more to do with rising fuel prices as cost-to-market costs have increased and grocers are simply passing those increases along to the consumer. A recent stroll through the camping section of Wal-Mart did give me pause - what kinds of things are prudent to have on hand in the event of a worldwide shortage of food and/or fuel? Survivalist in Training

I’ve been interested in survival stories since I was a kid, which is funny considering I grew up in a city. Maybe that’s why the idea of living off the land appealed to me. My grandfather and I frequently took camping trips along the Blue Ridge Parkway and around the Smoky Mountains. Looking back, some of the best times we had were when we stayed at campgrounds without electricity hookups, because it forced us to use what we had to get by. My grandfather was well-prepared with a camp stove and lanterns (which ran off propane), and when the sun went to bed we usually did along with it. We played cards for entertainment, and in the absence of televisions, games, etc. we shared many great conversations. Survivalist in the Neighborhood

[metmom]

My beans are up as well as are the peas, lettuce, and onions.

The other things I am amazed that we get from China are garlic and apple juice. So much of NYS is apple country. Orchards are everywhere in CNY. Why import juice when American farmers could be earning the money?

Garlic is another thing as it is so easy to grow. I got two bulbs and divided the cloves and planted them and they are growing very well. The flowers are very pretty and garlic could be grown even in a flower garden.

[metmom]

Excellent list. We have most of those items stored already. I take a lot of ribbing about what I have in the basement, but should the day come, we’ll be OK for a while.

[metmom]

My dad made the stuffed cabbage but used ground beef for it instead. It was an old family recipe.

He used equal amounts of cooked ground beef and rice. Added a little chopped up bacon. Rolled the mixture in the cabbage leaves (which isn’t nearly as easy as it sounds), put them in a buttered casserole dish, poured the stewed tomatoes on top and baked it for about an hour.

[Tired_of_the_Lies]

Vinegar is a good disinfectant too.

[DelaWhere]

>>>I think this is the thing you’re talking about right HERE <<<

Yep, I think you are right. Thanks.

[Library Lady]

Thank you. I had read about these houses but lost the URL.

[Marmolade]

“fruit tree update...

All but one peach trees are leaving out and doing great!”

Glad to hear your’s are doing well. I bought 2 new trees this spring - an heirloom apple, which is leaving out. The cherry tree isn’t doing anything. I think I will have to call the company and see if they will replace it. 2 Blueberries are doing OK. Lost most of the asparagus.

[nw_arizona_granny]

This message contains the following:

1. Gothic Cabinet Craft Recalls Bunk Beds Due to Fall Hazard

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09218.html

2. Girl’s Hooded Sweatshirts Recalled by Ely and Walker Due to Strangulation Hazard

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09226.html

3. Bunn-O-Matic Recalls Single Cup Tea/Coffeemakers Due to Burn Hazard

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09227.html

4. Ross Stores Recalls Benches Due to Fall Hazard

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09228.html

5. CPSC Announces New Report on Child Drownings and Near-drownings in Pools and Spas

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09229.html

[Marmolade]

“No-Dig Gardening “

I just recieved the 2nd advertisement for Rodale’s “Lasagna Gardening”. It sounds similar to the no-dig gardening. Hubby found it at the library for me the other night. I’m hoping to find time this weekend to read through it.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thanks for spreading the word about our efforts, all are welcome to join in the thread.

[nw_arizona_granny]

I’m sure he already has a cell ready for me and mine.......a whole bunch of gun-totin’, bible thumpin’, self-reliant patriots.<<<

Did you catch Rush Limbaugh in his last hour?

He was talking to a caller and said something like “ In the past years, when we got letters from listeners that said they were building c. camps for American citizens, we called them kooks and ignored them.

Today, we get so many letters and with the report that showed how they consider most of us to be terrorists, there are many people concerned about WHO the camps are for.”

And he also said that the obama statement on Gitmo, had left the door open for him to use the same treatment on citizens, but I didn’t hear all that conversation.

Maybe we will have adjoining bunks.

[Marmolade]

“Budget DIY Trellis & Garden Space Tip”

We were able to get about 50 heavy (steel?)shelves from my husband’s work. They are about 4’x 3’ and look like wire fence sections. We’ve taken about 8 of them and leaned them together in a row, tied the corners where they meet, and are using them for pea fencing. He also took another 2 and staked them next to each other to grow cucumbers on. We have more cucumbers, luffa, & squash to plant and will probably set up more panels to grow them on, saving some space. I’m guessing we could stake some into bins to use for our compost, too.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Welcome and glad you shared the home plans, it is beautiful.

The constant temperature, reminds me of the mine shafts in the hot desert, they also maintain an even temp the year around.

There is a large cement building in one of the mining areas, that is about 150 years old, the walls are about 6 inch thick and it is 2 stories high, it is still standing and with a roof and the windows installed again, would make a wonderful small hotel, we tried to buy it and it is controlled by BLM, so not for sale.

[nw_arizona_granny]

(I always forget about this thread.)<<<

That is not allowed, you are welcome here anytime.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thanks for reminding me to note the link for the stuff cabbage.

[nw_arizona_granny]

From a Sarajevo War Survivor:
Experiencing horrible things that can happen in a war - death of parents and
friends, hunger and malnutrition, endless freezing cold, fear, sniper attacks.

1. Stockpiling helps. but you never no how long trouble will last, so locate
near renewable food sources.

2. Living near a well with a manual pump is like being in Eden.

3. After awhile, even gold can lose its luster. But there is no luxury in war
quite like toilet paper. Its surplus value is greater than gold’s.

4. If you had to go without one utility, lose electricity - it’s the easiest to
do without (unless you’re in a very nice climate with no need for heat.)

5. Canned foods are awesome, especially if their contents are tasty without
heating. One of the best things to stockpile is canned gravy - it makes a lot of
the dry unappetizing things you find to eat in war somewhat edible. Only needs
enough heat to “warm”, not to cook. It’s cheap too, especially if you buy it in
bulk.

6. Bring some books - escapist ones like romance or mysteries become more
valuable as the war continues. Sure, it’s great to have a lot of survival
guides, but you’ll figure most of that out on your own anyway - trust me, you’ll
have a lot of time on your hands.

7. The feeling that you’re human can fade pretty fast. I can’t tell you how many
people I knew who would have traded a much needed meal for just a little bit of
toothpaste, rouge, soap or cologne. Not much point in fighting if you have to
lose your humanity. These things are morale-builders like nothing else.

8. Slow burning candles and matches, matches, matches

From your:

100 Items to Disappear First

http://www.thepowerhour.com/news/items_disappearfirst.htm

An excellent and accurate list of what will disappear first, from the stores.

Thank you for posting it.

Many do not allow for simple games, coloring pages for the kids and anything to keep the kids quiet and busy, as they learn to live without tv and computers.

Few remember, how often keeping a child quiet, has saved a group of people from being discovered by the searchers.

Not just in time of war, it could be as simple as a nut with a gun, out to kill as many as they can, or a war zone.

The American Indians trained their babies to stay quiet and not make a noise, so have many others over the years.

I have posted several times coloring pages that can be printed and saved for the kids, they work, for I used them in my office, to keep clients children busy, while we discussed real estate.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thank you for posting the rest of the formula report.

It has to scare everyone, or it sure does me.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Vinegar is a good disinfectant too.<<<

Yes it is and I use it all the time, more than any other product.

For cleaning, for the air, for bites, LOL, to scare off the neighbors dogs, who come to eat the cats food.

And it will break up a cat fight.

A friend, told me that during the depression, when they could not afford the lemons to go in water, for the field workers, she used a little vinegar and it helped in the Yuma sun.

She also used it in her animals, cows, poultry water and I do also, in the heat months.

It always seemed to me, that a little vinegar in my goats water, gave me more and sweeter milk, even in extreme temperatures.

And I got a kick out of the way the goats would pucker up, when it first went in the water, they make a big production of the taste, but if they have a choice, will drink the vinegar water first.

[nw_arizona_granny]

“No-Dig Gardening “<<<

I think you will find there are several take offs on “Lasagna Gardening”, using different names, to sell more books.

My sister swears by it, she thinks it is the only way to grow.

[nw_arizona_granny]

We were able to get about 50 heavy (steel?)shelves from my husband’s work. <<<

What a wonderful find, should work for compost too.

Can you also use them for your canned and stored foods?

If you run out of the supports, try a dead tree limb, well planted in the ground and uses as a support for vines.

I have even had good luck with the bushy branches laid flat on the ground and used to support beans.

LOL, I like picking beans from a bean tree.